US Senate backs Fanning as Army secretary

WASHINGTON, May 17 (Reuters) - The U.S. Senate unanimously backed President Barack Obama's nomination of Eric Fanning as secretary of the Army on Tuesday, making him the first openly gay leader of a U.S. military service branch.

Fanning previously worked as undersecretary of the Air Force and chief of staff to Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

He was confirmed by unanimous voice vote, eight months following his nomination, after Pentagon leaders assured Senator Pat Roberts that it was now too late for the administration to transfer prisoners from the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to Roberts' home state, Kansas.

Roberts had held up Fanning's nomination for months to underscore his opposition to any possible transfer of detainees.

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US Senate backs Fanning as Army secretary

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning testifies during his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning testifies during his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning testifies during his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning testifies during his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning arrives at his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning testifies during his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning testifies during his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning takes his seat as he arrives at his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning testifies during his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 21: Acting U.S. Secretary of the Army Eric Fanning testifies during his confirmation hearing January 21, 2016 on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. If confirmed, Fanning will become the first openly gay Army Secretary. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 21: Eric Fanning takes his seat to testify during the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on his nomination to be secretary of the Army on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

UNITED STATES - JANUARY 21: From left, Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-AK, Eric Fanning and Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., talk before the start of the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on the nomination of Eric Fanning to be secretary of the Army on Thursday, Jan. 21, 2016. (Photo By Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call)

Eric Fanning testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be Secretary of the Army on Capitol Hill in Washington January 21, 2016. If confirmed, Fanning will be the first openly gay leader of a military service branch in U.S. history.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Eric Fanning takes his seat to testify before a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be be secretary of the Army on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 21, 2016. If confirmed, Fanning will be the first openly gay leader of a military service branch in U.S. history. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

Eric Fanning smiles as he testifies before a Senate Armed Services Committee confirmation hearing on his nomination to be be secretary of the Army on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 21, 2016. If confirmed, Fanning will be the first openly gay leader of a military service branch in U.S. history.REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

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His opposition had frustrated his fellow Republican, John McCain, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and strong supporter of Fanning's nomination.

On Tuesday, McCain and Roberts appeared in the Senate together as Roberts announced that he had released his "hold" on Fanning and spoken to Fanning.

McCain noted that this year's National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, ensures that the Obama administration does not have the authority to release or transfer detainees to the U.S. mainland.

Roberts said Deputy Defense Secretary Robert Work told him during a meeting last week that he would be unable to fulfill an order to move Guantanamo detainees to the United States before Obama leaves office in January 2017.